ABSTRACT

Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs throughout the world. The
psychoactive constituent of cannabis, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta
9-THC), produces a myriad of pharmacological effects in animals and humans. For
many decades, the mechanism of action of cannabinoids, compounds which are
structurally similar to delta 9-THC, was unknown. Tremendous progress has been
made recently in characterizing cannabinoid receptors both centrally and
peripherally and in studying the role of second messenger systems at the
cellular level. Furthermore, an endogenous ligand, anandamide, for the
cannabinoid receptor has been identified. Anandamide is a fatty-acid derived
compound that possesses pharmacological properties similar to delta 9-THC. The
production of complex behavioral events by cannabinoids is probably mediated by
specific cannabinoid receptors and interactions with other neurochemical
systems. Cannabis also has great therapeutic potential and has been used for
centuries for medicinal purposes. However, cannabinoid-derived drugs on the
market today lack specificity and produce many unpleasant side effects, thus
limiting therapeutic usefulness. The advent of highly potent analogs and a
specific antagonist may make possible the development of compounds that lack
undesirable side effects. The advancements in the field of cannabinoid
pharmacology should facilitate our understanding of the physiological role of
endogenous cannabinoids.